February 2026 - RoboCup-athome

[CFP] [meetings] [AAAI] Bracing for the Enshittification of Embodied AI and Robotics
by Ross Mead 20 Feb '26

20 Feb '26

Bracing for the Enshittification of Embodied AI and Robotics New Keynote Speakers: Prof. Maja Matarić and Andra Keay! Now Seeking Panel & Poster Submissions! AAAI 2026 Spring Symposium: https://aaai.org/conference/spring-symposia/sss26 - When: April 7-9, 2026 - Where: Hyatt Regency, San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, CA, USA - Web: https://sites.google.com/view/bracing-for-enshittification Panels & Posters: We are seeking presenters to serve on panels and give poster presentations. To express your interest in being a panelist or poster presenter, please fill out this Google Form by Wednesday, February 25, AoE (Anywhere on Earth). You will need to provide your contact information, the title of your poster or short panel talk, and an abstract. You do not need to be a paper author to present on a panel or at a poster session. Panels will start with short talks introducing the thoughts of each panelist then a longer Q&A session. Interest Form: https://forms.gle/Dv92KcaLgQxk36Nb7 Keynote Speakers: - Maja Matarić, Professor, University of Southern California - Andra Keay, Founder and Managing Director, Silicon Valley Robotics Additional speakers will be announced closer to the date of the symposium. Please find the full CFP below: Overview: In November 2022, Cory Doctorow coined the term “enshittification” to viscerally describe the process by which two-sided marketplaces (i.e., platforms that connect buyers and sellers) have tended to degrade over the past decades, leading users on both sides of the market to experience a worse product. In its most basic form, enshittification describes the intentional decline of platform quality over time. Robots intended for home consumer use are often social in nature and use social interaction and relationship norms to keep users engaged. Turning such robots into two-sided market platforms, where users and advertisers both become targets of monetization, poses unique and significant risks. Unlike static smart or connected devices, social robots actively engage users via gaze, gesture, language, and dialog, which makes them uniquely persuasive forms of technology. This raises unique potential risks related to deception and manipulation of end-users. This symposium will not focus on enumerating potential negative outcomes; instead, we will use these examples to motivate and support methods that AI researchers in particular can use to address enshittification before it takes over the embodied AI and robotics fields. Organizers: - Paul Robinette (UMass Lowell) - Alan Wagner (Penn State University) - Ross Mead (Semio) - Samantha Reig (UMass Lowell) Topics: Potential topics include but are not limited to: - Case studies of dual-sided AI deployments - Privacy-aware AI - Ensuring trustworthy behavior of AI systems - AI Ethics/Responsible Computing - Discussion of societal impacts of robots that enshittify. - Consideration of the inequities caused by devices that advertise relentlessly. - Discussion of a research agenda to anticipate and prevent the enshittification of robots that provide services (e.g., in public, in homes). - Affective manipulation by consumer products and AI driven technologies Format: The symposium will combine invited talks, panels, lightning talks, poster sessions, discussion sessions, and working sessions. Attendance is open to all who are interested. At least one author of each accepted paper is expected to attend. Papers: Submissions should be to https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=sss26 by February 13, 2026. Papers should be 2–4 pages in length and use the two-column AAAI format. Selected papers will be asked to present as a lightning talk, panel discussion, and/or poster. Check the website for more information. Paper Submission Deadline: Feb 13, 2026 (EXTENDED) Paper Submission Site: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=sss26 More Information: Please direct questions to enshittification2026aaai(a)gmail.com <enshittification2025aaai(a)gmail.com>. Symposium website: https://sites.google.com/view/bracing-for-enshittification – The Organizing Committee * Paul Robinette (UMass Lowell) * Alan Wagner (Penn State University) * Ross Mead (Semio) * Samantha Reig (UMass Lowell)

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ICRA26 Workshop on Shared Challenges in Human-Centered and Resilient Robotic Autonomy
by Katarzyna Pasternak 07 Feb '26

07 Feb '26

Dear RoboCuppers, We invite submissions to the workshop *“Shared Challenges in Human-Centered and Resilient Robotic Autonomy <https://sites.google.com/cs.miami.edu/scr-icra26/call-for-contributions>”*, to be held in conjunction with *ICRA 2026*. Robots are increasingly expected to operate various complex environments such as homes, factories, and disaster environments. While these domains differ in context and constraints, they share fundamental challenges such as robust autonomy in dynamic and uncertain settings, natural interaction with non-expert users, perception in cluttered or degraded environments, and reliable manipulation of diverse objects. Recent advances in AI and learning create new opportunities for adaptation and cross-domain transfer, while safety, ethics, and benchmarking remain central concerns for responsible deployment. This workshop brings together researchers from *domestic service robotics, smart manufacturing, and disaster response* to discuss cross-cutting challenges, transferable solutions, and unifying principles for resilient, human-centered robotic systems. *Topics of Interest (including but not limited to)* - Human–Robot Interaction and communication with non-expert users - Navigation, perception, and mapping in dynamic, unstructured, or degraded environments - Mobile manipulation and grasping in real-world contexts - Learning and adaptation for cross-domain transfer and task planning under uncertainty - Safety, ethics, and evaluation frameworks for long-term robust autonomy We especially encourage contributions reflecting on the transferability of skills and systems between different areas of robotics and contributions that reflect on *societal needs and implications* of deploying robotic systems in real-world settings such as homes, clinics, factories, and disaster sites. Papers may include short work-in-progress and position papers (2–4 pages) as well as long-format integration and experimental papers (4–8 pages). Each submission will undergo independent review by at least two reviewers. All submissions will be considered for both oral presentations and poster sessions. Selected high-quality submissions may be invited to a *special journal issue*. *Best Paper Award* will be presented at the workshop. *Important Dates* - *Submission deadline:* April 1, 2026 - *Decision notification:* April 15, 2026 - *Camera-ready deadline:* May 15, 2026 - *Workshop date:* June 1 or June 5, 2026 (TBD) *Submission Site* https://easychair.org/my2/conference?conf=scr2026 We warmly encourage participation from researchers across robotics, AI, and HRI communities, and we look forward to fostering a lively, cross-disciplinary discussion. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the workshop organizers. Best regards, *The SCR 2026 Workshop Organizing Committee*

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Fwd: [RoboCup-worldwide] RoboCup German Open 2026 - Deadline Extension
by Sven Wachsmuth 02 Feb '26

02 Feb '26

-------- Weitergeleitete Nachricht -------- Betreff: [RoboCup-worldwide] RoboCup German Open 2026 - Deadline Extension Datum: Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:46:15 +0100 Von: Maike Paetzel-Prüsmann via RoboCup-worldwide <robocup-worldwide(a)lists.robocup.org> Antwort an: Maike Paetzel-Prüsmann <me(a)maike-paetzel.de> An: robocup-worldwide(a)lists.robocup.org RoboCup German Open 2026 - Deadline Extension! We are pleased to announce that we extending the team registration deadline to: * February 6 - 23:59 CET* For Major team registration please visit: https://portal.robocup.de/registry All major teams are invited to join us in Cologne! Most recent rule developments in all leagues, especially the Humanoid Soccer and Smart Manufacturing Leagues will be considered for the competitions. See you all at the 23rd RoboCup German Open 2026! Best regards, German RoboCup Committee Am 30.11.2025 um 22:18 schrieb Oskar von Stryk via RoboCup-worldwide: > RoboCup German Open 2026 > > Call for Participation - Major Leagues > > https://robocup.de/german-open <https://robocup.de/german-open> > Cologne Trade Fair, Cologne, Germany > > > The 23nd RoboCup German Open 2026 will take place from March 10-14 in > Cologne. > > *Cologne **with its welcoming vibe**offers a captivating mix of > culture, architecture, **history, **and lively atmosphere.* From the > awe- inspiring Cologne Cathedral — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — to > its dynamic art scene and riverside cafés along the Rhine, the city > invites exploration. For example, visitors can enjoy world-class > museums, the walkable old town with many bars, or festive events like > the Cologne Carnival. Cologne is a perfect destination for both > history lovers and urban adventurers and a great host for RoboCup > German Open 2026. > > Every regional and international Major team is cordially invited to > take part in the event. > > ---------------------------- RoboCup Major Leagues (international > teams) ---------------------- > > After the team setup on March 10^th, the competitions will take place > from 11^th to 14^th of March 2026 in the following main leagues: > > * > > RoboCup Humanoid Soccer League > > * > > RoboCupSoccer Small Size League > > * > > RoboCupRescue Robot League > > * > > RoboCupIndustrial Smart Manufacturing League > > * > > RoboCup@Home League > > For Major team registration please visit: https://portal.robocup.de/ > registry <https://portal.robocup.de/registry> > Registration deadline: *January 31st, 2026*. > Late registration deadline (team members only): *February 28th, 2026*. > > Teams are advised to arrange their own accommodation *as early as > possible* as cost of accommodation is expected to rise in the run-up > of the event. > > Most recent rule developments in all leagues, especially the Soccer > and Smart Manufacturing Leagues will be considered for the competitions. > > ------------------------------- Further information on co-located > events ------------------------- > > RoboCup German Open 2026 will be embedded in didacta 2026, which is > Europe's largest education fair and most important continuing > education event for teachers. Over 700 exhibitors from more than 60 > countries will present their offerings in Cologne. Participants > tickets to RoboCup German Open will include didacta tickets as well. > > The 2nd German Robotics Conference on AI-powered robotics, organized > by the Robotics Institute Germany, will take place from March 11 to > 13, 2026, parallel to the RoboCup German Open and in close proximity > to it. > > ---------------------------- RoboCup Junior (German teams) > ----------------------------------- > > From March 12-14, 2026 the final event of the German RoboCupJunior > Championship will be held at RoboCup German Open 2026 in Cologne. The > best teams that have qualified in the nine previous German qualifying > tournaments will take part. The best German Junior teams in the 2026 > German Junior Final will qualify for RoboCup 2026 in South Korea and > for the European RoboCupJunior Competition 2026 in Austria. > > ----------------------------- Organization Committee > ---------------------------------- > > * Oskar von Stryk (General Chair) > * Julian Werner (Project Lead) > * Alexander Ferrein (German RoboCup Committee, Spokesperson Major) > > The Major Leagues Organizing Committee: > > * Heinrich Mellmann (Humanoid Soccer League, former Humanoid & > Standard Platform Leagues) > * Nicolai Ommer (Small Size League) > * Johannes Pellenz, Stefan May, Thomas Sander (Rescue Robot League & > RMRC) > * Sven Wachsmuth (@Home League) > * Alexander Ferrein, Christoph Steup (Smart Manufacturing League) > > The Junior Leagues Organizing Committee: > > * Lara Trappmann > * Oskar Kirmis > * Niko Lockenwitz > * Michelle Bialdyga > * Christian Häußler > * Lena Eickhoff > * Stefanie Haupt > > ---------------------------- Co-located Events > ------------------------------------------------------ > > Parallel to the RoboCup German Open 2026 the second German Robotics > Conference of the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) will take place. > The conference will bring together the leading German researchers in > AI- based robotics. > > The education fair “didacta”, will also take place in Halls 6 to 8, > between March 10-14, 2026. All participants will also have access to > didacta. > > ---------------------------- Important dates > ---------------------------------- > > * > > 2025-12-01 Major teams early registration starts > > * > > 2026-01-31 Major teams registration deadline, team member > registration deadline > > * > > 2026-02-28 Late registration deadline (team members only) > > * > > 2026-03-10 Set-up day Major League teams > > * > > 2026-03-12 to 16 Competition days > > * > > 2026-03-14 Major and Junior finals > > The event is open to the public during all days from 9 am to 5 pm. > > ----------------------------- Contact ---------------------------------- > > Please contact _germanopen(a)robocup.de_ > <mailto:germanopen@robocup.de>for any questions. > > See you all at the 23rd RoboCup German Open 2026! > > Best regards, > > German RoboCup Committee > > > _______________________________________________ > RoboCup-worldwide in RoboCup.org Mailing list > To send a message to this list send email to > robocup-worldwide(a)lists.robocup.org > To unsubscribe send an email to robocup-worldwide-leave(a)lists.robocup.org _______________________________________________ RoboCup-worldwide in RoboCup.org Mailing list To send a message to this list send email to robocup-worldwide(a)lists.robocup.org To unsubscribe send an email to robocup-worldwide-leave(a)lists.robocup.org

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